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Updated: May 8, 2025

Direct Imaging of Laser-driven Ultrafast Molecular Rotation
Published on: February 4, 2017
Ultrafast Spin Rotation of Relativistic Lepton Beams via Terahertz Wave in a Dielectric-Lined Waveguide
Zhong-Peng Li1, Yu Wang1, Ting Sun1
1Xi'an Jiaotong University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Nonequilibrium Synthesis and Modulation of Condensed Matter, Shaanxi Province Key Laboratory of Quantum Information and Quantum Optoelectronic Devices, School of Physics, Xi'an 710049, China.
Abstract:
Spin rotation is central for the spin manipulation of lepton beams which, in turn, plays an important role in investigation of the properties of spin-polarized lepton beams and the examination of spin-dependent interactions. However, realization of compact and ultrafast spin rotation of lepton beams, between longitudinal and transverse polarizations, still faces significant challenges. Here, we put forward a novel method for ultrafast (picosecond timescale) spin rotation of a relativistic lepton beam via employing a moderate-intensity terahertz (THz) wave in a dielectric-lined waveguide (DLW). The lepton beam undergoes spin precession induced by the THz magnetic field. We find that optimizing the lepton velocity and THz phase velocity in the DLW can mitigate the impact of transverse Lorentz forces on the lepton beam and increase the precession frequency, thereby maintaining the beam quality and enhancing the efficiency of transverse-to-longitudinal spin rotation. The final polarization degree of the lepton beam exceeds 98%, and the energy spread can be improved significantly. Flexibility in adjusting the electromagnetic modes within the DLW adds further potential for spin manipulation and holds promise for advancing the development of spin-polarized particle beams, which has broad applications in materials science and atomic, nuclear, and high-energy physics.
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